Abbey Excellence

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Sekyah Chestnut

On February 18, 2024, the Crusader track and field team finished up their 2024 indoor track and field season. This final meet of the season featured many exciting performances. These performances came together to make the men place third overall and the women place fifth; the highest overall placement in respective program histories.

The highly anticipated two-day meet kicked off with the distance medley relay, resulting in a podium finish for the crusader men ending in third place. This started the momentum for the team, with many other athletes posting exciting performances. Newcomers Sekani Coleman, Orlando Descartes, and Dayzhuan Gooding-Williams each made the podium in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Also, team veterans Kelly Hay, Thomas Thierfelder, and Jesse Coleman lead the team to the podium, with Coleman taking first place in the men’s 400m, Hay placing third in the men’s pole out, and Thierfelder placing second in the 800m, winning his 5th medal in the event. The men’s team ended the meet placing second in the 4x400m relay.

Not to be forgotten, the women’s team made exciting performances as well. Isabelle Flores and Karolina Colon placed first and third in the 60m hurdles for the 2nd year in a row, resulting in a new school record and personal best for Flores. The women’s 4x400m relay team ended the championship with a podium visit, placing third in the event.

Led by Coaches Dan Finanger, Amy Cerdeiras, and Tomas Cerdeiras. When speaking with Coach T. Cerdeiras, he stated that he was, “very excited to see what we do this outdoor season. We have a lot of great returners hungry to win and many newcomers excited to show what they can do as well, so I know we’ll do great things this year.” You can see the team bring this momentum into their outdoor season beginning on March 1st and 2nd at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington or support digitally by following the team throughout the season on their Instagram at @abbeycctrack.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Connor Nanney

Dr. Rajive Tiwari, the longtime physics professor and the Coordinator of the Physics-Mathematics Minor at the Abbey, displays an exemplary love for knowledge and education.

Dr. Tiwari, often referred to by his students as “Dr. T-Money” (or Dr. T$), grew up in Delhi, India. His father was a professor, and teaching became a family trade as some of his siblings acquired PhDs and taught. Furthermore, he feels indebted to his own teachers who imparted him with “wisdom and knowledge and all that good stuff,” and he feels that teaching is a way to repay that debt. All these factors contributed to the creation of a successful, effective, and beloved professor.

Having taught at Belmont Abbey College since 1994, Dr. Tiwari has taught many physics classes and students. One would expect that 30 years of teaching the same few subjects would become boring, but Dr. Tiwari claims that “The material might be the same, but every class is different.”

Not only do interactions with different groups of students prevent teaching physics from becoming monotonous, but new questions raised by pupils provide fresh perspective and insight. Dr. Tiwari believes that one learns by being asked questions that they cannot answer. As such, he is glad to be asked difficult questions, stating: “That enriches my own knowledge.”

Being in the classroom in action is an invaluable thing to this professor. Belmont Abbey College is blessed to have such a dedicated professor of physics, and Dr. Tiwari is excited to continue doing what he loves: teaching.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Jennifer Johanson

It’s absolutely no secret that Belmont Abbey boasts one of the most picturesque campuses a college could hope to have. As the seasons turn from winter to spring, the students and staff of Belmont Abbey College will be able to see their home campus at its most beautiful as it comes to life with a lavish display of flora and fauna and truly be given a wonderful treat for any outdoor excursions. With spring’s (perhaps early) arrival, our campus bursts into a floral feast for the eyes; it and the warm weather prompting more and more students to do their work outside rather than cooped up in their dorms.

To examine what Belmont Abbey’s outdoor sections have to offer this time of year, two freshmen, Lucy Flood and Ava Biance, sit down for an interview regarding their experience with the campus. Already, they enjoy studying outside up to twice a week, their personal recommended spot being Abbey Lane in the evening, and the anticipation only builds further for when more flowers accompany the daffodils and lilies of the valley. Ava states,  “It’s very serene, very quiet.” Of course, as exquisite as the landscape is on its own, it is not complete without its share of fauna. The Abbey is home to a wide variety of creatures.

Many species of birds, from hawks to crows to mockingbirds and sparrows, can be seen on campus, and on occasion you can catch a heron in flight heading towards the lake not too far away. It’s not uncommon to see the odd lizard or skink here as well, or even a snake! Be wary, however, during winter: copperheads like to hibernate beneath the stairs near the Holy Grounds cafe.

Insects are plentiful as well, and while most commonly you can see a shield bug or bees and wasps or on lucky occasions a mantis, there is a pleasant array of moths and butterflies who come to visit: tiger and black swallowtails grace the blooming bushes during the spring, and I myself was once fortunate enough to come across a large, healthy Polyphemus moth caterpillar specimen. Meanwhile, in the pond by the registrar’s office, you can see some tadpoles and minnows and sometimes hear some frogs chirping, and by night hear the symphony of the tree frogs.

Mammals, however, often draw the eye of the passerby, to which the Abbey hosts a vast variety of as well. Chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and of course the famous Belmont Abbey cats. They’re feral and a bit shy, but they highly appreciate it when you feed them and will come running to you if you do it regularly. Once they trust you enough, you can even see their social lives unfold, and they prove to be very entertaining characters. Each are affectionately nicknamed by students as well. “I love the cats” says Ava, when asked about her favorite animal on the campus. “I was gonna say squirrels,” Lucy replies. “I like how endearing they are. They come up to me, they’re really daring, very bold. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Get your cameras and your phones ready: both for the increased activity in wildlife in the days to come, and as the trees and bushes flourish with flowers. Perhaps bring a blanket and some lunch, too, if you wish to turn study time into a picnic after the fact — just be sure to clean up after yourself so we can keep the campus beautiful! With that in mind: happy studying, and enjoy the lovely scenery the Abbey has to offer!

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Sarah Gilmore

Every Thursday night, from 11pm to midnight, there is a Holy Hour in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel here on campus. This Hearts United Holy Hour is headed by Dr. Thierfelder and his wife. Students are encouraged to come pray and attend this Holy Hour.

This Thursday, Holy Hour is part of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is a time to remember Jesus’ acceptance of His Father’s will when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane.

It is an opportunity to make reparation for sin, ask for mercy, and keep company with Jesus during an hour in which he was left alone to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

With the lights dimmed, the stillness of the hour, and the True Presence of Christ, this Holy Hour is a great gift to the Belmont Abbey community. Junior Reagan Merkel says of the United Hearts Hour, “I love this late night hour in the Chapel. It is such a peaceful, serene, and intimate way to spend time with the Lord.”

Daily Adoration ends each night by 8pm, so the Hearts United Holy Hour offers the opportunity for students to spend time in Adoration later than would normally be possible. Reagan Merkel emphasizes this point saying, it’s “perfect for the late-night owls on campus.” Come spend time adoring the Lord alongside members of our college community next Thursday evening in the beautiful St. Joseph Adoration Chapel.

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer Katherine Flynn

Br. Edward Mancuso is one of the most beloved monks at Belmont Abbey College. A native of New Jersey, he grew up in Morristown and went to St. Bonaventure University in New York. Before becoming a monk, Br. Edward worked in advertising for a pharmaceutical company, and during this time, he also discerned a call to religious life.

While at St. Bonaventure University, Br. Edward really enjoyed spending quiet time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. After he graduated, he visited a monastery in New Jersey. After several visits, he decided to become a monk. Someone recommended Belmont Abbey to him, and after 2 years of visits, he decided to join.

Br. Edward has been at BAC for 21 years and is the Guest Master for the monastery (meaning, he takes care of all non-vocational guests that visit). He also works in Campus Ministry and loves being around the students. He especially enjoys praying with students (especially through the intercession of Bl. Solanus Casey) and talking about the saints. A highlight for him is doing Saint’s Group with them.

What Br. Edward most enjoys about being a monk is the prayer life, especially the divine office and quiet prayer time. He is devoted to Bl. Solanus Casey and one of his favorite sayings is “Solanus is upon us”. He truly has a saintly soul and has helped many students (including myself) grow closer to God. Br. Edward is in Campus Ministry from 2-4 pm during the week and welcomes anyone who needs help, personally or spiritually. Stop by and see him, and you will certainly encounter Our Lord through him!

This article was originally posted in the Spring 2024, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue here.